Abstract: Surface irrigation methods - furrow and border-strip are generally thought of as being inefficient and labor intensive. Careful evaluations have shown that as methods they can be very efficient and have low labor requirements. The broad reasons for the poor reputation are the restraints in the usual water supply schedule, and ignorance - it is not the method. The supply schedule is usually rigid in its duration - 24 hours; and fixed in its flow rate. Ignorance of the technically involved procedures to optimize operations is widespread. Surface methods appear deceptively simple.